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Gangster Girls

GANGSTER GIRLS depicts every day life at Schwarzau, Austria's only women's prison. Why are these women behind bars? How does prison life affect them? The prisioners explore these questions in a theater workshop.

“Women under the influence: Tina Leisch’s excellent prison documentary. […] In her cinematic début theatre director Tina Leisch has made a surprisingly compact, multi-faceted milieu study which succeeds to a considerable extent in breaking away from its own shackles: GANGSTER GIRLS, which arose from one of Leisch’s theatre projects, presents accounts and personal stories of women behind bars without any patronising commentary. The filmmaker does not dramatise or sanitise the material, relying entirely on the fascinating protagonists - who conceal their identity behind their garish theatre make-up.” (Stefan Grissemann, Profil) “What started off as a small 'making-of' feature about a theatre project, has become a major film containing a great deal of what the cinema does best: depicting crimes, everyday life and grand emotions. Using art to make reality more penetrating, as if it were not art at all.” (Veronika Franz, Kurier/Austria)

Drama Consult

Germany , 80 min D: Dorothee Wenner

English (Subtitled: EN), English (Subtitled: DE)

The documentary DRAMA CONSULT by Dorothee Wenner is a cinematic experiment and case study: Three Nigerian entrepreneurs arrive in Germany to conduct business. Investing in Nigeria is the best kept secret in the world - says Dolapo Ajayi, an insider in this business landscape.

Rene

Czech Republic , 83 min D: Helena Třeštíková

Czech (original version, Subtitled: EN, DE)

Veteran documentarian Helena Třestíková follows 17-year-old René's development from pimple-faced juvenile, to tattooed convict, to published writer. An incredible film spanning twenty years of a life lived both in and outside Czech prisons and politics.

Tell me something about yourself: RENÉ

Czech Republic , 60 min D: Helena Třeštíková

(Subtitled: EN)

René first went to jail at the age of 16. Since then, his life has been a merry-go-round of short bouts on the 'outside' alternating with repeated terms of imprisonment. René is the hero of RENÉ (also directed by Helena Trestikova, 2008) winner of best documentary at Prix ARTE 2008.

The Conquest of Inner Freedom

Germany , 80 min D: Aleksandra Kumorek, Silvia Kaiser

German (Subtitled: EN)

Men who have been convicted for murder, fraud, drug dealing, robbery and manslaughter look into their own souls and try to find answers to the questions that arise during discussions with the other prisoners, using the Socratic Method.

The Injustice System in America

USA , 82 min D: Cary Silberman

English

American civil law experts discuss the effects of racism at all levels of the American criminal (in)justice system. They spare no criticism on how the misguided 'War on Drugs' has had a devastating effect on communities.